1§0 SEA-FISH. 
brighter hours of the day, cruising at the top only 
on the approach of dusk—by lead in some form or 
other on the main-line, preferably in pipe form ; 
several small leads of } oz. each being better than 
one of some ounces, as the smaller leads can be 
threaded at intervals, and keep the line sunk 
more uniformly. It is a good plan to have in your 
basket, in that compartment which should always 
be reserved for “sundries,” a penny coil of fine 
sheet lead, such as is sold for plummets, as an inch 
of this bound on the line not far above the hook is 
inconspicuous, and may just make the required 
difference, when the depth has to be adjusted with 
great accuracy, as is the case when the fish are 
biting shyly on very sunny days. 
The bait may be a plano-convex minnow, a 
“fly,” or a rubber eel, the last-named alone or in 
combination with a tinned spinner—it is largely a 
matter of fancy—or a natural bait; best of all, a live 
sand-eel, next best, a couple of rag-worms. Large 
mussels are also used with success ; in fact it may 
safely be said that, once you have ascertained the 
hour and depth at which the pollack are feeding, 
any, or almost any, bait drawn not too rapidly 
across their line of vision will in all probability 
provoke a rise. 
Such are the broad principles of railing, whiffing, 
or whatever it may be called, and individual taste 
or experience will suggest a number of modifications 
to suit special conditions, the employment of a 
shorter or longer trace, of swivels between the trace 
and main-line to lessen friction, and of fancy 
patterns of lead, boat-shaped, coffin-shaped or pear- 
shaped. 
A good deal has been written for and against 
